“Today was his biggest, most acid test and he had to stand up and be counted.

“James (McDonald) got him into a beautiful rhythm. At top of the straight he was always going to win it was just a matter of how far.

“You’ve got to give the horse credit. He’s a racehorse, he wants to put in and he’s a superstar.”

His victory in Saturday’s Group Two race has assured Messene of a Doncaster start.

Hawkes was unsure if the five-year-old would have a final lead-up in the Doncaster Prelude a week before the April 12 showpiece, or go straight into the $3 million race in which the stable will also start Ninth Legion.

Messene’s Ajax win took his record to nine victories from 12 starts and Hawkes said he was a good advertisement for the benefit of patience.

The gelding’s Doncaster quote has tightened from $15 to $8 with the stable happy to wait to confirm a jockey.

Messene has 50kg but handicaps could be raised if the topweights don’t run.

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